My vote - Blend.

Our grout is Keracolor U Ivory #39 from Lowes. We put a sealer on the grout afterwards. I hope in several years it will still look clean.

{{!gwi}}

I'd vote for blending, too. I think it would make the kitchen look more spacious, and the floor appear less chopped up. I think Laurie_2008 has done a fabulous job. Looks great!

Wow thank you! The picture really helps too. Does anyone have contrasting grout? How do you like it? If we do go with blended grout, you may have made my layout decision easier. It won't matter if I go straight, brickwork (running bond) or diagonal because the lines don't stand out.

- Jim

Laurie your floor looks lovely. Could you post a picture of the floor from a distance so I can see the overall effect? I still have to pick out flooring and will be waiting until the granite is installed so I have some time. Thanks

We chose grout that was the exact color to blend with three different sets of tile in three different rooms. However, when it was all installed, the grout came out lighter than the tile in all three instances, and we really don't like any of them. Not a disaster, but not what we'd wanted.

Anne

iris16 - here are a couple pics from a distance (please excuse.. no moulding installed where toekick meets tile, yet).

In my house, it's safest to go on the dark side of matching. I think they all look good, even the dark sample, Jim. But if it's DIY, match it as invisibly as possible. :P

I think you should go a little bit darker than your tile. The grout always dries a lighter shade than the little sample pieces they have at the tile store. I don't understand why the samples show the color that the grout is when it is WET. In reality, the grout will dry to a significantly lighter shade. Also, a darker grout color will show dirt more. Sealing helps, but are you really going to do it regularly? I would choose a color to go with the darker parts of your tile. Also, if you have a lot of floor and the look really matters, buy a little bit of grout and actually use it with four tiles. See the color it dries. Grout is pretty cheap. Smallest size should be under $10.

Thanks for the info!

AstridH: You said that a DARKER grout showed dirt more? Is that true? I thought that a lighter grout showed dirt more and could darken in heavy traffic areas, thus no longer matching other areas... Half of our kitchen is one big heavy traffic area...

- Jim

Blend...blend....blend!

I vote for blend. A constrasting tile make the floor pattern jump out at you and the floor becomes a focal point in the room. I prefer the floor to be attractive, but not to jump out at you. Even with an interesting tile pattern, blended grout looks gorgeous.

Blend, blend, blend. It will have a wonderful flow. Particularly in a galley kitchen I wouldn't want the floor to look chopped up.

Jim, this is one for YOU to answer. The only practical reason for going one way or the other would be using a medium to dark colored grout in high traffic areas. Beyond that, it's strictly a matter of taste. Most people, as you've seen, prefer their grout to blend with the tile, so as to get rid of the "modular look". Others like to see the tile, and therefore go with a contrasting grout.

Oops, sorry, I meant to say that a LIGHTER color will show dirt more. A really dark color will show dirt too. Probably a medium color is safest. Sorry about the goof.

blend! If your tile gives you 2 or 3 choices, choose the darker. The lighter the grout the worse it's going to look over the years EVEN IF YOU SEAL IT. Sealer helps but it's not bullet proof.
Monica